From starting with linen peddling in the German region of Westphalia to becoming one of the richest families in the world in the fashion industry with a fortune of 35.000 million euros, according to specialized media.
The sixth generation of the Brenninkmeijer still owns the textile chain C&A, but their fortune has exponentially increased thanks to their holding Cofra Holding AG, which has diversified their wealth in real estate (Redevco), private equity (Bregal Investments), asset management (Anthos Fund & Asset Management), and solar energy.
Through Anthos, they have recently acquired the emblematic San Miguel market in Madrid for 200 million euros, as reported by Cinco Días.
The origin of the billionaire heritage of this German-origin family but established in the Netherlands for two centuries can be traced back to 1841 when brothers Clemens and August opened the first store of their retail empire in Sneek (C&A are the initials of their names), about 125 km northeast of Amsterdam.
The Brenninkmeijer have built their hierarchy on discretion. They rarely give interviews, are seldom photographed, do not disclose their financial results, unlike other billionaires, do not flaunt huge mansions, and have at times enrolled their youngest children in school under false names. In essence, they aim to remain completely unnoticed and not receive special treatment.
It is true that in recent times they have become slightly more open but strictly in a business sense, as they have been seeking foreign investors. However, beyond this, little is known about one of the most powerful clans in the ready-to-wear industry.
The only Brenninkmeijer member who has received significant media attention from a social perspective is Albert (51), who married civilly on April 21, 2012, with Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Parma (51), daughter of Carlos Hugo of Bourbon-Parma, head of the Carlist branch, and Princess Irene of the Netherlands, sister of the former Queen Beatrix, mother of the current monarch Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (58).
June 16 of that same year was even more special for the couple, as they exchanged vows in the beautiful Basilica of San Miniato al Monte in Florence. The couple has two children, Alaïa-Maria (11) and Xavier Alberto (10) with whom they reside in Geneva.
Albert is one of the 200 members of the Brenninkmeijer family holding a management position at C&A. He graduated in Economics from the University of Edinburgh and later obtained a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Oxford.
Maria Carolina studied Political Science and International Relations at Harvard University and later worked at the UN in humanitarian roles.
For a while, the princess was considered as a potential official girlfriend of the then Prince Felipe.